Spinodal Bronzes

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich

Spinodal bronzes are ternary copper-nickel-tin alloys possessing high mechanical strength due to a controlled heat treatment called Spinodal decomposition.

Spinodal decomposition is a spontaneous phase nanoscale separation (clustering) occurring in homogeneous supersaturated solutions (liquid or solid), which results in formation of two phases of different compositions but with identical crystal structure.
Spinodal phases form without nucleation and needs no incubation period.

Spinodal bronzes contain 5-15% of nickel (Ni) and 5-8% of tin (Sn).
According to the Unified Numbering System (UNS) spinodal bronzes relate to Copper-Nickel Alloys.
Spinodal bronzes are characterized by:

• High tensile strengths and hardness
• High fatigue strength;
• High toughness;
• Excellent corrosion resistance;
• Good anti-friction properties under severe loading conditions.

In many applications spinodal bronzes replace hazardous beryllium copper (beryllium bronze).

Copper-Nickel alloys are used for manufacturing sliding bearing and bushings, pumps parts (shafts, stators, rotors, sealers, bushings), electric connector parts (spring contacts, clips, etc.), the watch industry (hands, wheels, bridge, etc.), automotive industry (valve guides, roller bearing cages, cam roller pins, wrist pin bushings, thrust washers), mining equipment (rifle nuts, piston rings, guide bushings, spindle bearings), aircraft parts (landing gear bearings, guide plates, shaft bearings, spherical bearings), metal forming equipment (rolls, punches, die inserts, guides, slides).

(Materials Data)

• Spinodal Bronze Nicomet
• Cast copper alloy C96970 (Spinodal Bronze ToughMet2 CX)
• Cast copper alloy C96900 (Spinodal Bronze ToughMet3 CX)
• Wrought copper alloy C72900 (Spinodal Bronze ToughMet3 AT)
• Wrought copper alloy C72900 (Spinodal Bronze ToughMet3 TS)

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• Wrought Coppers and high copper alloys
• Wrought brasses
• Wrought phosphor bronzes
• Wrought aluminum bronzes
• Wrought silicon bronzes
• Wrought copper-nickel alloys and Nickel Silvers
• Cast copper-nickel alloys and Nickel Silvers
• Classification of copper alloys
• Temper designation of copper alloys
• Treatment of molten copper alloys
• Spinodal decomposition

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